2017 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 288 MOT tests, the 2017 Audi S3 recorded a 92.0% pass rate. That is 4.4 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 12.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and lighting & signalling (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — tread depth alone was recorded 4 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 8.2% versus 2.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.0% in 2021 to 5.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 11 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 4 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 4 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 3 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 2 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 4 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 2 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 2 |
| 6 | Washers | 1 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.3% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 37 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 14 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 4 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 34 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 161 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 8.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 48 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 58 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 70 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 72 | 5.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 S3
On a 2017 S3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 288 2017 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi S3?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 2017 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.9% in the 0-30k band to 8.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 288 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.